Faith is the answer of hopeful assurance which God puts into a heart before any change at all can be seen in the physical world.

Just as peace is imparted to a body of water by the stability of its depth, so the deeper our commitment to the Lord, the less troubled by, and the sooner recovered from, the trials of life and faith are we, and the greater the reservoir of peace and faith that we are capable of maintaining.

Depth of commitment flows from depth of love, for with love is understanding and the ability to calmly wait for that which we hope for, with the assurance in our hearts that the beloved--the Lord--is faithful. Therefore, we commit to him our lives and our souls, and we hope with certainty in our hearts for his answering demonstration of love.

From whence does this love flow? The love of God flows into our hearts by the experience of his grace and mercy, out of the very fount of Heaven--the wounded side of Jesus. When we first see that fountain opened to us--for no reason other than his love--we are filled with awe, and our hearts respond by opening to that flow, allowing it unhindered access to our beings. Beginning with a single drop--enough to save our souls--it becomes a steady stream, as we look into the very heart of God and partake of his nature.

Unless some blockage occurs at some point in our lives, the stream will eventually become a great body of love and commitment. Commitment cannot be separated from love. Love will always translate itself into commitment. It is this body of love and commitment from which the Lord draws forth that faith to believe for all the promises he has spoken, and speaks, to our hearts, and all the needs of our lives.

Thus, we are rich, and have all things. Who is poorest among men? He who is without the experience of Godís love. Yet, the shallow Christian lives not far away from that state: Shallow in love, commitment, peace, and faith, he has let something get in the way of all that God would freely give of himself. He has let his reservoir leak out, by opening himself to wasters--vain, unholy pursuits--or he has become choked with the weeds of worldly care, so that he cannot believe God. For, he no longer knows God on the level of loving intimacy. He has become estranged from his first love.

Still, Godís love is there, waiting. We have only to tap into the fulness of his grace and mercy and love once more; to allow our dry, closed-off strand to once more be linked to his abundant sea. With hearts fully open (which takes full repentance), the force of his deep, deep love will flow into us like a tsunami, breaking down and washing away all the blockages, and filling us to the farthest shores of our souls with his presence.

Yes, we can be filled with love, peace, and faith once more, if we will commit to his love. Have you ever thought where his love comes from? It comes from his righteousness. Godís love is the expression of his holy nature. It is who He is. We must be holy also, if we would truly know his love, and feel his hopeful assurance in our hearts.

If you have your heart crammed full of other things (or desires), he cannot put faith into it, and you canít know his love in any but a shallow way. It is only into a cleansed heart that the love of God can flow, with all its attributes. It is only a heart full of God that can have the faith to meet all the trials of life with a calm assurance and the answer of God--even when there are no visible signs of change.

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If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be! TRUST JESUS NOW

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